The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-30
HARRIsuN AND GRESHAM
A Discriminating Estimate of Their Poltti-
cal and Personal Qualities.

cal and Personal Qualities.
.'Gath's'' New York Letter.
l was talking, yesterday, to a weli-known In
diana man, Republican, but of Irish extraction,
concerning some things pertaining to the above
and some things independent OF It. told this
gentleman who is friend of Ben Harrison,
that a leading Democrat had SAID 20 me
that morning that the Republicans had a
irst-class presidential ticket in Harrison and
Hawley. Now" said T. can Ben Harrison carry
Indiana if he is nominated in lSSSH
Nv friend who is no fool and blabber,
Ben Harrison. L think, carry the State
There is a good deal of dissatisfaction in our
State gainst the President If another Demo-
crar was put up the would be closer. l
suppose that Indiana is slightly Democratic IN
the divsi on. AS against Cleveland, feel JUS
tilted in aaying that Harrison, as an Indiana
man, could carry the State, unless there Is
very great change in the interim
.sTell me the difference between Harrison and
Gresham9'
Ben Harrison is a good party man, which
Gresham is not. 1t may be that the interests of
each of them have led them 60 their respective
standards. Men never act without persona! mo
tiyes Harrison has become stronger and
stronger by being a strict party man, Gresham
has widened his reputation more and more by
kicking over the party traces nave no DOUBT
that Gresham has acted as ne has done from in
terest and yeit he is independent enough to have
acted in the same way without having had the
interest l spoke of. Harrison, therefore, Is re-
earded among men who value their party rela-
lions as a more safe man than Gresham he
would not be apt to leave his party for a little
rush of blood to the head or temporary elation
Personally said my friend, Il like Gresham
little better than do Harrison. He has tenn
permanent which suits me better But IT were
a man with interests IN Indiana, or with
interests in America, and wanted per-
son in control of my interests and or the
public interests VIII would be perfectly true to
the system in which he was-who could be relied
upon at all times an Il who by his own stability.
would make everyl ,ody else stable-l would
select Ben Harrison. / don't think that indi-
yiduals however chrvalric. ever amount to as
FIR, man w
According to my notion, Gresham is weaker than
Harrison in that respec I, but as an individual
there are few more pleasing more manly
men in the country than Gresham. The Amer
leans are getting education all the time in the
old antagonsms of its society and politics: that
you must not trust an honest mans impulses
batter than a tvrannical mans frmness amid
his system and surroundir gs. The moment You
leave the great organizations and fly to per-
sonal temperament you give away the com blna-
tions and cohesions of yourisalf and have nothing
to trust but poor individuals life and tenn
per-"
Nov" said l. lis Ben II harrison jealous of
Greshaml'
ut is probably true that til Sc men have got
in the habit of considering etl-h other as rivals
or ANTAGONISTS l think they are both good he
publicans. 1t possibly piques Harrison and his
friends that Gresham gets thr~s-fourths or his
praise outside of the Republican party when
Gresham made Postm aster general suddenly
by President Arthur 1t doire In a way to
cause an evaporation and to tn at extent was
bad policy Arthurs part In point or TACT,
it was conceived in little bit of treachery.
Arthur wanted TO head off Blaine isnd Harrison
and every body else from getting tn nomination
IN 1884 Instead of going to the Is snator from
Indiana like man and saying, i think OF ap-
pointing Judge Gresham he bega to snoop
around in Indiana to find man who would sup
plant Harrison. Outside of that meth cd of TAX
ing Gresham up. don't believe thee is any
proper commencement for a quarrel between
the two men,"
lis Gresham a man of apility?"
Yes. When he was made judge tn ere was
a disposition to laugh among some mem bers of
the bar, because he hadsno been consi aered a
profound student of law. His decisions on the
bench, however, are made with an eye b,sth to
law and TO justice, which comprehends tn law
So he raised himself upon the bench, and Indi
ana is proud of him. 1t is equally proud of Har
rison, who has points more nearly akin to Ga resh
| am than you might think
| ..Give me example"
ST was just going to do Some time 4s
| fall and winter. when there in he
| State Legislature it was thought advisable tn 81
Harrison should go out there. Nobody care /
however, to prod him to CO. for he has way
/ attending to his own business Finally said IL
! him, General. don't you think you ought to be
out in Indiana at this juncturea You the
! head of the party and the time is getting short
there Yes said Harrison, / know l ought to
be there. but here is Blank, who has a chance to
/ be put into such and such place. I only
waiting here To that he gets his opportunity.
and is put through AS soon as that is done
will 60 out there | was so much struck
with this proof of Harrison's fidelity to an indi-
vdual that it occurred to me to ask the man in
question if he was aware that Harrison was